Black cats silhouetted against a cream shade make a wonderful catty gift. Tall, stately Egyption cats, prowling fierce cats, and cosy, snuggling cats will all sit very happily side by side, united in their blackness. Read the rest of this entry »
This lavishly decorated box is almost a gift in itself, and is a stylish way to conceal a special surprise. Natural materials work well with fabric flowers, and you can use paper ribbon both to cover the box and to tie the chunky bow on top. Read the rest of this entry »
Delicate, swirling brush strokes create a watery background for this delightful sea horse. The box can be used for storing stationery, pencils, jewellery or even cosmetics. Read the rest of this entry »
Once a tree base has been made, you can use it over and over again, so it is a good investment! You will need a 15cm (6in) flowerpot and some quick-drying cement. Cover the hole in the bottom with card; fill the pot between half and two-thirds full with cement, and place a twig or piece of dowelling, some 45cm (18in) long, into the centre of the cement. Read the rest of this entry »
A basket of flowers looks wonderful anywhere in the house, but seems particularly welcoming in a bedroom. If this colour scheme does not match your decor, you could substitute cream orchids and change the colours of the other flowers. As it is made with wet foam, this arrangement should last well, providing you have conditioned the foliage and flowers carefully before using them. Read the rest of this entry »
Posies of aromatic flowers and herbs were popular in the past. This posy of long lasting, perfumed dried flowers, could be used on more than one occasion. Read the rest of this entry »
These little, lightweight tenpins are simple to make, and the whole family can enjoy the game. The bodies and heads are fun to decorate, and you can paint them in the brightest colors you can find. You can make small pins using toilet paper tubes, or if you want them a little taller, paper towel tubes are ideal. Read the rest of this entry »
With this magnet game, you can go fishing no matter what the weather. Once you have cut out the basic body shape, you can paint each fish a different color. If you don’t have any paperclips at home, anything metal will do, such as a small safety pin. Play Matching Pairs or High Scores with the fish. You may even be able to think up some games of your own. Read the rest of this entry »
This brightly coloured curtain is created using a simple technique. The chequered design is achieved by a combination of masking out the basic grid and hand-painting the colours in layers. Read the rest of this entry »
Here pink tulips have been used in a rather unexpected way utilising their regular shapes to make a formal and organised arrangement reminiscent of a Victorian posy. Read the rest of this entry »
